Since 1984, the United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS-USA) International Exchange Program (IEP) has worked with partners around the world to provide hands-on training opportunities for emerging cultural heritage professionals. The IEP sends participants from the United States to internship placements abroad and welcomes international participants to placements in the United States in order to expose the next generation of heritage professionals to global best practices of historic preservation and heritage conservation. The IEP is a one-of-a-kind cultural heritage internship that changes lives by enabling hosts and interns to learn from one another and increase their impact in the heritage field. We’re proud of the program’s 40 years of success!
Our Class of 2024 includes 12 interns from Africa, Australia, Europe, India, Southeast Asia, and the United States. They are:
Janet Adesina | Nigeria
Internship: Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Montgomery, Alabama
Janet T. Adesina, is a recent graduate of the masters program in Historic Preservation from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is from Lagos, Nigeria, and a trained Architect from the University of Lagos, Akoka, with about a decade of experience in managing design, construction, and implementation of major commercial, residential and government buildings. Her experience in the field and obvious neglect to historic structures, propelled Janet to study historic preservation at Maryland. Janet has worked with underrepresented communities in numerous preservation efforts towards preserving their unique historical and cultural fabric despite their losses and disadvantages over the years. She worked with the Maryland National Capital Parks and Planning Commission, engaging in various historic area work permits, tax credit, section 106, historical research and documentation. Her research entails utilizing 3D digital tools, laser scan and Photogrammetry in documenting unique historical and cultural structures within underrepresented communities. This summer, Janet will further engage in Black heritage with the National Park Service at the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Alabama. She is looking forward to networking, gaining more knowledge, and contributing to the body of work already done on the historic trail. Overall, Janet aims to be an International advocate and ambassador for architectural, cultural and historic heritage globally.
Katherine Chalmers | Australia
Internship: Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Montgomery, Alabama
Katherine Chalmers is originally from Melbourne, Australia but now lives in Sydney where she completed a Master of Heritage Conservation at the University of Sydney in 2022. She will be interning with the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail to assist in the preparation of an Interpretation Plan and an Implementation Plan. Katherine is most looking forward to learning more about the American civil rights movement and the approaches to heritage interpretation and preservation in the United States. She is also eager to meet heritage experts and emerging professionals from around the world.
Lori Filbeck| USA
Internship: National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) in Natchitoches, LA
Lori Filbeck is from Springdale, Arkansas, and is studying in the Master of Design program at the University of Arkansas – Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design with a concentration in Preservation Design. Her internship will be at the National Center for Preservation Technology & Training in Natchitoches, Louisiana where she looks forward to developing techniques to ensure the longevity and integrity of our cultural resources.
Christl Høj Hansen | Denmark
Internship: San Antonio Missions National Historical Park in San Antonio, Texas
Christl Høj Hansen is from Denmark and recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Sustainable Heritage Management from Aarhus University. She is excited to join the International Exchange Program and work with San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. She is most looking forward to working at a World Heritage Site where she will have the opportunity to learn about and contribute to its preservation and management. Christl is also excited to discover a new culture and forge new connections.
Moriah Hughes | USA
Internship: Fixus Mobilis (Cultural Infrastructure Centre) in Vilnius, Lithuania
Moriah Hughes is from the Midwest and Texas, and is a PhD candidate in structural engineering at Princeton University, researching the vulnerability of historic timber frame barns to severe windstorms. At Fixus Mobilus in Vilnius, Lithuania, she will work with mobile teams to provide condition assessments and preventative maintenance. She is most excited about learning hands-on assessment and repair skills from the team and getting acquainted with the Lithuanian cultural heritage sites. And a special experience during her stay will be the centennial Lithuanian Song Celebration in July!
Anita Lim | Indonesia
Internship: The National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington D.C.
Anita Halim Lim studied architecture at Universitas Tarumanagara Jakarta and then received her master’s degree from the MA Heritage Studies programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Her previous experience includes working as a conservation architect in the Jakarta Old Town Revitalization Project. She was the guest curator for the exhibition Indonesia and the Amsterdam School at Museum het Schip Amsterdam and a part of the curatorial team of Museum Arsitektur Indonesia. During the International Exchange Program, she will be working together with the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C. on several historic site stewardship projects.
Precious Mubiana | Zambia
Internship: City of San Antonio World Heritage Office in San Antonio, Texas
Precious Mubiana holds a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from the University of Zambia, a Master of Arts in Museum and Gallery Practice from University College London, and a Diploma in Public Relations from the University of Zambia. Currently, she works as the Curator of Ethnography at the Lusaka National Museum in Zambia conducting research in cultural heritage, designing exhibitions, and developing public programs. In her work, Precious draws inspiration from collaborating with diverse professional teams to create engaging programs with the goal of educating diverse audiences. She is excited to further her expertise while working with the City of San Antonio World Heritage Office and looks forward to engaging with the rich historical and cultural heritage of the city, exchanging ideas with fellow professionals, and exploring new methods to make cultural heritage accessible, vibrant, and engaging for the public. Precious is also eager to experience professional development opportunities, expand her global network, and gain perspectives that will shape her future career.
Brandy Nguyen | USA/Vietnam
Internship: Element Advisory in Perth, Australia
Brandy Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American immigrant currently completing graduate studies in New York City. He is a second-year M.S. Historic Preservation and Master of Architecture candidate at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation (GSAPP). Brandy’s IEP internship will be completed with Element Advisory, a planning consulting firm based in Perth, Australia. With interest in intangible heritage and admiration for the Burra Charter, he is excited to see Australian principles of cultural heritage management put into practice. He is also looking forward to Element’s adaptive reuse work for former industrial sites. In his free time, Brandy would like to visit as many museums, art galleries, and nature sites as possible.
Jamal Oliver | USA
Internship: Center for Heritage Conservation in Ahmedabad, India
Jamal Oliver is originally from Dadeville, Alabama, but currently resides in Auburn. At Tuskegee University, he serves as the Program Manager for Historic Preservation while pursuing his Master of Design Studies at Boston Architectural College, specializing in Historic Preservation. He is excited about his upcoming internship in Ahmedabad, India, where he will have the opportunity to explore preservation within a diverse cultural framework and learn from their unique approach to the field.
Viktorija Siaurusevičiūtė | Lithuania
Internship: National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) in Natchitoches, LA
Viktorija Siaurusevičiūtė is from Vilnius, Lithuania. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Vilnius Tech University and a Master’s degree in Cultural Heritage Conservation from Vilnius University. Currently, she works at the Cultural Infrastructure Centre in Vilnius, as a preventive care specialist. Her IEP internship will take place at the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) in Natchitoches, Louisiana. During her exchange, Viktorija looks forward to meeting new people and learning and applying approaches and methodologies that differ from those in her home country. She is most looking forward to exploring the unique heritage of Louisiana.
Vinita Tanted | India
Internship: Preservation Institute Nantucket (University of Florida) in Nantucket, Massachusetts
Vinita Tanted is an Architect from Ratlam city in the central Indian state, Madhya Pradesh. She recently graduated from the School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi, where she received a Masters in Architectural Conservation. During her IEP internship, Vinita will be working with the University of Florida’s Historic Preservation Institute on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. During this internship, her work will focus on exploring and documenting the island’s intangible heritage at risk. Vinita looks forward to immersing herself in a different culture on the island, gaining new perspectives on global heritage issues, and building meaningful connections that will benefit the field of heritage conservation worldwide.
Sarah Tucci | USA
Internship: Kosovo Council for Cultural Heritage
Sarah Tucci is from Philadelphia and holds a Master of Arts in Sustainable Cultural Heritage from The American University of Rome and a Bachelor of Arts in International Politics from Penn State. Her research interests include understanding the intersection of armed conflict and cultural heritage, cultural heritage as a human right, and post-conflict tourism. During graduate school, Sarah focused on understanding cultural heritage in the conflict and post-conflict context of Kosovo and wrote her master’s thesis on the relationships between military, NGOs, and civilians through the lens of cultural property protection with Kosovo as the primary case study. Sarah currently works at the Penn Cultural Heritage Center on projects in Ukraine and the Republic of Georgia related to cultural heritage protection and capacity building. Through her participation with the 2024 International Exchange Program, Sarah is most looking forward to gaining valuable field work experience in historic preservation in a country that she has come to love over the last few years.